Hydroairship



WET/1423a C. E. LABADIE.

HYDROAIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, I920.

Patented June 21,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. E, LABADIE.

HYDROAIRSHlP.

APPLICATlON FILED JUNEVVIO. 1920.

1 ,332,U9 fe, PatemedJune 21, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.v

I I v HI LZafiadzfe UNETEH ear Pl? has HYDROAIRSL'IIP.

Application filed June 10,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, CHARLES E. LABADIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at lilichigan City, in the county of Laporte and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Hydroairship, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hydro-airships, an object of which is to provide vessels capable of being propelled through air and on the surface of the sea.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vessel or ship having a seaworthy hull and a superstructure which. is carried by the hull and contains a compartment of sufiicient dimensions to render the entire structure lighter than the air, and a further object is to provide a combined air and water vessel of compact structure and so arranged as to eliminate the depending carriage or car found in airships.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiments in the accompanying drawings, herein Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the device;

F 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2; and

'Fig. 4. is a transverse sectional view taken on the line l-d of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a seaworthy hull by which it is shaped to approximate the usual ship hull, the hull 5 contains aplurality of ballast tanks 6. A. superstructure is secured to the hull 5 and combines with this hull 5 to present a compact structure. The superstructure 7 contains a gas compartment 8 which surrounds a passenger and cargo compartment 9 and the gas compartment 8 of the superstructure 7 also communicates with a gas compartment 10 formed in the hull 5. Passage ways 11 extend from the passenger and cargo compartment 9 and lead to the exterior of the ship, these passageways being po- Specification of Letters Patent. P-Jtgnted Jung 21, 132.1,

1920. Serial No. 387,929.

sitioned in both hull and superstructure of the vessel. These passageways have closures l2 positioned at their outer terminals and those closures may be secured to the ves sel and operated in any preferred manner. an observation tower 12 extends from the forward or bow end of ti e cargo and passenger carrying compartment upwardly through the superstructure and there extends beyond the superstructure to thereby enable the-crew ofthe vessel to obtain a view'in all directions. Ports or tubes 13 extend from the passenger and cargo carry ing compartment and extend through the superstructure, thereby establishingconr munication between this compartment and the atmosphere to effectively ventilate the passenger and cargo compartment; Each ventilating tube 13 has a hinged closure which cooperates withthe inner end of the tube in order toprovide means for controlling the supply of air to the passenger compartment.

It will be observed that the hull portion of the ship extends only a relatively small distance upwardly from the keel and that the ballast tanks and passenger and cargo compartment are positioned at the lowermost part of the vessel, which arrangement presents a staple vessel while flying through the air and a safe and seaworthy ship when resting on the surface of the sea. The superstructure is of the rigid type and may be supportedand reinforced by a plurality of suitable braces or ribs, not shown, which arrangement enables the structure to be shaped to best conform to conditions met in actual practice.

The vessel may be propelled by any preferred instrumentality, and since they form no part of this invention they have not been illustrated; and the ballast tanks 6 may be filled and emptied in unison or selectively thereby insuring perfect stability.

In use this vessel may be safely propelled through the air and if by accident or design it is necessary to descend to the surface of.

the sea the vessel may be guided downwardly, and upon reaching the surface of the sea the ballast tanks are opened and sulficient water is admitted to hold the vessel in this position. The vessel, may now be driven safely through the water until it is desired to ascend, and then the ballast tanks are emptied, by any preferred mechanism, and

then the vessel may safely arise from the surface of the sea and ply through the air.

' Upon reaching its destination the vessel may safely land in any body of water such as a river, small pond orlake and there its passengers and cargo may be readily discharged through the passageways 11." This method of landing is highly advantageous over the present method which necessitates the employment of a large number or" men to safely land or anchor a large airship and this structure also presents a very safe vessel in that it can travel with equalfacility through both the air and on the water.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is 1. A device of the class described including a seaworthy hull, a superstructure'rigidly secured to the hull, a passenger compartment common to both the hull and superstructure, a gas compartment partially surrounding the passenger compartment, said gas compartment being common to both the hull and superstructure, passageways leading from the passenger compartment and extending through thehull, closures for the passageways, means for ventilating the passenger compartment, and ballast tanks positioned between the passenger compartment and the keel portion of the hull.

2. A'device of the class described including a seaworthy hull, a superstructure rigidly secured to the hull, a passenger comsaid gas compartment being common to both the hull and superstructure, passageways leading from passenger compartments and extending through thehull, closures for the said passageways, ventilating tubes leading from said passenger compartment and extending through the superstructure, and a ballast tank formed between the passenger compartment and the hull.

3. A device of the class described including a hull, a superstructure rigidly secured to the hull, a passenger compartment, a gas compartment partially surrounding the passenger compartment, passageways leading from the passenger compartment "and extending through the hull, ventilating tubes extending from the passenger compartment and communicating with the atmosphere, closures for the ventilating tubes, and an observation tower extending from the passenger compartment to a point beyond the top of the superstructure. v

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

- CHARLES E. LABAQDIE.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. ORR, ALBERT BADER. 

